Special drive to verify claims of closure of PGs

Waking up to the menace of illegal paying guest accommodations in SAS Nagar, district authorities will start a special campaign from Thursday to check claims that about 100 PGs have closed down. This decision was taken in a meeting by deputy commissioner SAS Nagar, Varun Roojam.

Waking up to the menace of illegal paying guest accommodations in SAS Nagar, district authorities will start a special campaign from Thursday to check claims that about 100 PGs have closed down.

This decision was taken in a meeting by deputy commissioner SAS Nagar, Varun Roojam, held on Tuesday. In the meeting, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) said about 100 PGs had been closed and a list of these 100 PGs was submitted to the administration.

"A team comprising representatives of the administration, police and GMADA from Thursday would be conducting checks to cross check the claims of the PG owners that the accommodation have been closed down," said Roojam.

He added that getting registration of the tenants was mandatory and those failing to do that would face action.

GMADA estate officer Navjot Kaur said, "About 100 PGs have closed down and strict action would be taken in case people who have given an undertaking but still operating PGs. No person will be allowed to operate PG till they comply with all the rules laid down in the policy."

"In the door-to-door checking campaign, the police would be providing assistance to the administration against illegal PGs operating in SAS Nagar," said SAS Nagar SP (city) Swarndeep Singh.

Resident welfare associations meet DC

Various resident welfare associations of SAS Nagar under the banner of Citizen Development and Welfare Forum called on the deputy commissioner and submitted a memorandum to him, demanding a strict action against PGs.

Forum president Satvir Singh Dhanoa said, "In 2007, an action committee against PGs in residential areas was constituted demanding closure of the PGs in residential areas. The committee had demanded the construction of hostels for people coming from far off places to study, but GMADA failed to take any action. GMADA had framed a policy that they could not implement. We have submitted a memorandum demanding immediate closure of the illegal PGs."

Four more owners booked

The police, meanwhile, have booked three more owners for failing to get the tenants verified. Police have booked Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Nayagaon and Rajeev, a resident of Sector 30, Chandigarh, both running a PG in Nayagoan. Another case was registered against Raman Mehra, a resident of Nayagaon at the Nayagaon police station. In another case, Phase-11 resident Rajan and Sohana resident Sarabjeet Singh were booked by the police.